Makhanlal Sarkar BJP Veteran Worker: When PM Modi suddenly touched the feet of an elderly person on the stage of Kolkata, the entire country was stunned. After all, who is 98 year old Makhanlal Sarkar, before whom even the pinnacle of power has bowed down? From the Kashmir movement of 1952 to the coronation of Suvendu Adhikari, the mysterious journey of his struggles is awe-inspiring.
Narendra Modi Emotional Gesture: More than a historic political change, the stage of the swearing-in ceremony of the Subendu Adhikari government in West Bengal today witnessed human sensitivities and ‘worker devotion’. When the whole country was waiting for the coronation of the new Chief Minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did something which not only made the crowd of one lakh people present there emotional, but also wrote a new chapter in the relationship between the top leadership and the grassroots workers in Indian politics.
An untouched moment: When the pinnacle of power bowed before ‘sacrifice’
As soon as Prime Minister Modi reached the huge stage of the Brigade Parade Ground, his eyes fell on a 98-year-old man with a bent waist but shining eyes. He was none other than Makhanlal Sarkar of Siliguri. As soon as Makhanlal ji wanted to welcome the PM, the Prime Minister touched his feet and hugged him, keeping aside protocol. This was not just a greeting, but an honor to the ‘last mile worker’ of the BJP, who took the party from zero to the top.
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Who is Makhanlal Sarkar? That ‘brave soldier’ of the Kashmir movement of 1952
After all, why did the Prime Minister give so much importance to this old man? The answer lies in the struggling history of the Makhanlal government. Even at the age of 98, Makhanlal ji, dedicated to the nationalist ideology, is a leader of the era when even lighting a ‘lamp’ in Bengal was a challenge. In the year 1952, when Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee sounded the trumpet of Kashmir movement, Makhanlal walked shoulder to shoulder with him. While hoisting the tricolor in Kashmir, he had to remain behind the bars, but his resolve did not waver.
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That ‘silent architect’ of the organization, who raised 10 thousand members in one year
The Prime Minister’s embrace and pat on his back was a tribute to his organizational skills, which laid the foundation of the BJP in North Bengal. After the establishment of the party in 1980, Makhanlal ji was given the responsibility of difficult areas like Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. He surprised everyone by adding 10,000 new members in just one year. Being the District President for seven consecutive years since 1981 is a proof of his honesty and leadership ability.
Shawl, respect and message: Big message to the workers in the shadow of Gurudev
After paying floral tributes to the portrait of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on the stage, PM Modi honored Makhanlal ji by draping him with a shawl. Through this emotional moment, PM Modi gave a message to every worker of West Bengal who stood with the party during the period of struggle. He said that this victory of Subendu Sarkar is not just an election victory, but is the result of decades of sacrifice of lakhs of ascetics like Makhanlal Sarkar.
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Victory of nationalism in the rise of ‘Sonar Bangla’
Today, when the first BJP government is taking oath in Bengal, the tears in the eyes of Makhanlal Sarkar were a testimony to the fact that the flame of nationalism which he had lit in 1952, has become a torch today. This conduct of the Prime Minister has also become a topic of discussion on social media, where people are calling it ‘the union of an ideal leader and a dedicated worker’.
Today’s big learning: Politics is not just a game of numbers, rather it stands on the foundation of ideals and struggles that people like Makhanlal Sarkar nurture with their blood and sweat.